Control system



J. H. S. HAMER CONTROL SYSTEM.

Dec. 10, 1935.

Filed Aug. 12, 1932 may be of any suitable character and which, in

Patented Dec. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES CONTROL SYSTEM James H. S. Hamer, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Trans-Lu: Daylight Picture Screen Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware REISSUED Application August 12, 1932, Serial No. 628,532

12 Claims.

My invention relates to a system wherein the effect of a jet of air or other fluid on an electrical switch or equivalent, is controlled by a tape, web or the like.

In the disclosed form of my invention, an arrangemnt is shown for drawing a characterbearing tape through a projection field after ejection of said tape from a suitable printing device, such as the well-known stock ticker mechanism. It is well understood in the art that the aforesaid tape should move through the projection field regularly and evenly in contradistinction to the non-uniform, irregular and intermittent manner in which it is delivered from the stock ticker mechanism. In accordance with my invention, the mechanism for pulling the tape through the projection field is controlled by the tape itself in the general manner described above whereby there is obtained the desired regular and even movement of the tape through said projection field.

Various other advantages, characteristics and features of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

My invention resides in the system, arrangement, features and combination of parts of the character hereinafter described and claimed.

For an understanding of my invention and for an illustration of one of the forms thereof, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly broken away, of a tape-pulling system embodying the features of my invention;

Fig.- 2 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating parts of my novel arrangement; and Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating the control circuit of the tape-pulling motor.

Referring to Fig. 1, A represents any suitable device for printing characters on a tape or web. The device A may be and ordinarily is a stock ticker mechanism which, as herein generally shown, comprises a housing I, a reel 2, a printing wheel 3, and a movable platen l. The tape T, which is transparent or semi-transparent in the example shown, comes from the reel 2 and passes between the wheel 3 and the platen I where the printing operation occurs.

In a manner well understood in the art, the tape T is ejected from the ticker A in a non-uniform, irregular and intermittent manner, said tape '1 passing fromleft to right, Fig. 1, across the projection table 1 of a projector B which the example shown, is generally as disclosed in the copending Halloran application Serial No.

-3'73,76'7, filed June 26, 1929, and which has become Patent No. 1,952,249, dated March 27, 1984. Accordingly, said projector B is shown as com- 5 prising a base 6 supporting a housing 1 from I which rises a standard 8 carrying a suitable projection lens 9. The housing 1 contains a suitable source of light I D, a condensing arrangement, not shown, and a mirror I I whereby the beam of light 10 is caused to pass upwardly through that section of the tape T framed by the projection aperture 5a. of the table 5, said beam of light thereafter traversing the projection lens 9 and then suitably passing to any suitable screen, not shown. 15

In the example shown, although not necessarily, the projector B comprises an extension l2 which carries the mechanism for pulling the tape across the aforesaid projection table 5. As herein shown, the tape T, after leaving the pro- 20 jection field, passes beneath an idler roll I3, thence over a driven roll I and then is wound upon a reel l5 after passing around an idler roll IS. The tape T is positively held in driving relation with respect to the roll it by a roll ll 25 carried by a pivoted arm I8 which is biased in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 1, by a suitable spring l9.

The aforesaid driving roll I4 is mounted on a suitable shaft carrying a pulley operated by an 30 endless belt 20 which extends over and is driven by a pulley 2i rotated by the armature shaft of a suitable electric motor C. The above noted shaft also carries a second pulley for operating an endless belt 22, preferably a flexible spring belt, 35 which extends over and drives a pulley 23 carried by the same shaft which carries the reel l5.

Preferably, a re'tardingpr braking action is exercised on the tape T as it enters the projection field 5. Any suitable arrangement may thus be 40 utilized such, for example, as herein shown as comprising a slotted member 24 guided by screws 24a for free reciprocatory movement in a vertical direction on a fixed support 25, the member 24 being biased under the influence of gravity to- 45 ward the projection table 5 and, when the tape T is disposed therebeneath, exercising the desired braking action thereon.

Usually, the arrangement is such that the roll ll pulls tape across the projection table 5 sub- 50 stantially in correspondence with the average rate at which the tape is ejected by the ticker. In ordinary commercial practice, the ticker operates in an irregular, intermittent manner and, therefore, it becomes necessary to vary the opera-- tion of the roll I 4 under control of the motor 0 or no obstruction to the stream of air, it results in accordance with the rate at which tape is ejected by the ticker. This, in accordance with my invention, is accomplished in a highly advantageous and satisfactory manner.

As illustrative of one arrangement which has proven satisfactory in operation, there-is shown on the drawing a pair of switch contact elements 26 and 2! disposed adjacent the entrance to the projection field and somewhat .below the level thereof. The contact element 26 is carried by an electricity-conducting arm 2611 which is supported in the position shown on the drawing in any suitable manner. The contact element 21 is carried by an electricity-conducting arm 21a suitably secured, in insulated relation, to the arm 26a, the latter also being suitably insulated from its support. The arm 21a is formed of suitable resilient material and is freely movable as hereinafter described. The arm 26a, however, is relatively rigid and stationary. Normally, the position of the spring arm 21a isas illustrated in Fig. 2, the contact elements 26 and 21 being in non-contacting relation when said arm 21a is thus positioned.

Connected to the contact element 26 is a conductor 28 which leads to one terminal of the aforesaid motor 0, the other terminal of which has connected thereto a conductor 29 which includes a suitable source of current, not shown, and which is connected to the contact element 21.

In accordance with my invention, an arrangement is provided, the normal tendency of which is to maintain the contact element 21 closed upon the contact element 26 but which becomes ineffective to accomplish this result soon after operation of the ticker A is discontinued. To

' this end, there may be utilized an arrangement such as illustrated wherein a motor 3| is shown as operating an air pump 32 to continuously move a stream of air through a conduit 33. The nozzle 33a of said conduit 33 is so arranged as to direct the stream of air toward the movable contact element 21 and particularly a button 21b carried on the upper surface thereof whereby, unless the action of said stream of air is impeded, the switch element 21 remains closed on the switch velement 26.

As 'clearly appears from the drawing, the tape T issues from the tickerA fiatwise and so remains as it passes across the projection table 5 which is alined with the path taken by the tape as it leaves the ticker. The switch element 21 together with its button 211) is disposed directly beneath the'tape T. The conduit nozzle 33a is so directed that the path of the tape T is between the end thereof and the switch contact element 21, 21b. i

The operation is as follows:

The arrangement is such that the roll II, when operating at normal speed, pulls the tape across the projection table 6 at approximately the speed at which tape is ejected from the ticker A during normal, non-interrupted operation thereof.

' As the parts are related in Fig.1, it is assumed that the ticker A is operating as last stated and that the roll it is pulling the tape across the proiection table 6 at its normal rate of It will be noted that a downwardly extending loop L exists in the tape betweenthe ticker A and the projection table 6. Accordingly. the stream of air issuing from the nomle 33a strikes the tape and, due to the fact that the tape loop L is of substantial depth, the tape is held against the button 21b. Since the tape thus oflers little shortens, the tape tends to and does move up.-

that the contact element 21 is held in engage- .ment with the contact element 26 and, accordingly, the circuit of the motor C remains closed In the event that operation of the ticker A ceases, the loop L shortens or, decreases in. depth and, as a result, the tape in the loop formation becomes more or less taut. As thetape loop wardly from the button 21b and, in so doing, takes on a function as a shield to prevent application of force to said button 21b by the stream of air flowing from the nozzle 33a. When this happens, the contact element 21 moves from the contact element 26 under the influence of spring arm 21a whereupon the motor C is deenergized and operation of the roll it is discontinued.

The parts remain in the relation last stated until operation of the ticker A is again initiated. At this time, .the first action results in increase in depth of the loop L whereupon the jet of air again becomes effective to move the switch element 2! into engagement with the adjacent switch element 26. When this occurs, the circuit through the motor 0 is again completed and the latter, by operation of the roll l4, again operates to'pull tape across the projection ,table 5, this continuing until operation of the ticker A is again discontinued whereupon the sequence of steps described. above again occurs.

The member-24- operates, as stated,'to'apply' a braking action to the tape T. As a result, transmission of impulses generated by the ticker A to the tape section on the projectiontable I is substantially prevented and, accordingly, the projected images move across the screen smoothly and without jump.

Operation of the roll It as above described is effected by transmission of power to the shaft 40..

carrying the'same by the belt-20. Operation of said last named shaft effects operation of the belt 22 which serves -to rotate'the reel l5 and .wind the tape thereon.

from the spirit and scope of the invention and itis intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: y 1. In combination, a switch, means for. directing an operating jet of air toward said switch, and a tape movable in loop formation between said switch and said means, the length of the tape loop controlling operation of said switch by said jet of air. J

2. In combination, means for pulling a tape along a path, and means for controlling opera-'- tion of said pulling means, said controlling means comprising a switch and a conduit-for directing 66 an operating jet of air toward said switch, said tape, attimes, rendering said jet of air ineifecs tive to control said switch 3. In combination, means for pulling a tape along a path, and means for controlling opera- (6' tion of said pulling means, said controlling means comprising a switch and a conduit for directing a jet of air toward said switch, said tape controlling operation of said switch by said jet of along a path, and means for controlling operation of said pulling means, said controlling means comprising a switch and a conduit for directing a jet 01 air toward said switch, said tape moving along a path between said conduit and switch and controlling operation or said switch by said jet of air.

5. In combination, a printing device from which a printed tape is ejected, means for pulling said tape through a projection field, and means for controlling operation of said pulling means, said controlling means comprising a switch and a conduit for directing an operating jet of air toward said switch, said tape, at times, rendering said jet ot air inefiective to control said switch.

6. In combination, a printing device from which a printed tape is ejected, means for pulling said tape through a projection field, and means for controlling operation 01 said pulling means, said controlling means comprising a switch and a conduit for directing an operating jet of air toward said switch, said tape, moving along a path between said switch and conduit and, at times, rendering said jet of air ineffective to control said switch.

7. In combination, aprinting device from which a printed tape is ejected, means for pulling said tape through a projection field, and means for controlling operation oi. said pulling means, said controlling means comprising a switch and a conduit for directing an operating jet of air toward said switch, a loop in said tape between said printing device and said pro jection field changing in depth and, at times, rendering said jet of air ineflec'tive to control said switch. 4

8.'In combination, a printing device from which a printed tape'is ejected intermittently and at an irregular rate, means for pulling said tape through a projection field, a switch comprising a movable element for controlling operation of said pulling means, and a conduit ior directing a jet 01' air toward said switch element, said tape, when said printing device and said pulling means operate non-synchronously with respect to each other, preventing control of said switch element by said jet of air. 5

respect to each other, preventing control of said 5 V switch element by said jet of air, said tape, when said printing device and said pulling means operate synchronously withrespect to each other, returning the control 01' said switch element to said jet of air.

10. In combination, a printing device from which a printed tape is ejected, said tape forming a loop between said printing device and a projection field, a switch comprising a movable switch element disposed at one side of the tape 25 loop, and a conduit at the other side of said tape loop for directing a jet of air toward said switch element. a

11. In combination, a printing device from which a printed tape is ejected, said tape iorm- 30 ing a loop between said printing device and a projection field, a switch comprising a movable switch element disposed adjacent one side of the tape loop, and on the opposite side of said tape loop a conduit from which a jet of air is- 35 I 

